The newest addition joins a family built on the idea that accomplished golfers don't all want the same thing from a forged iron. The S-1 muscleback leans into workability and direct feedback. The S-3 cavity-back, oddly the first club released in the family, added stability. Now the S-4 ($215 per club) pushes another step toward playability, though its compact profile keeps it in the better-players category.

Every S-4 head is forged in Hiroshima, Japan, from a single billet of 1025E carbon steel and run through Mizuno's Grain Flow Forged HD process, with a copper sandwiched in between to soften feel at impact and Harmonic Impact Technology tuning the sound on top of it. None of that's new to the family. What's different is the shape: a curved muscle that pushes more mass low in the head, with a wider sole, deeper center of gravity, and a lower sweet spot, all aimed at making the long irons launch easier and keeping mishits from leaking distance.

That shaping tapers through the set—more offset and topline for confidence that's carefully scaled down through the scoring irons. The Triple-Cut Sole's beveled edges handle the rest, letting the head slide through turf instead of digging on steep contact. It's a forged iron for players who'll admit they want a little help, as long as it doesn't show.

Earlier this year, in a viral clip from the PGA Tour's new "Chasing Sunday" series, rising star Akshay Bhatia and his caddie Joe Greiner were aghast at learning that Koepka, a five-time major champion, did not carry a yardage book. Greiner picked the brain of Ricky Elliott, Koepka's caddie, after hearing this information, and Elliott informed him that sometimes the conversation is as simple as Koepka saying "driver?" and Elliott responding with "yes." 

In a mic'd up clip from a practice round at this week's Irish Open on the DP World Tour, we got to see a version of this process play out, and it was a joy to watch:

Koepka firsts asks what it is to carry "that bunk." Elliott says 260. Driver might run through the fairway. Koepka says it might be a bit windy when he's playing it in competition, though. Elliott says he'd probably be alright with it if he wants to it it, then they trade the 3-wood for the driver. Done and done. 

It's not the type of player-caddie conversation the avid golf fan usually salivates over, but it's certainly served Koepka quite well over the years. 

U.S. captain Angela Stanford, a Texas native, gave her three assistant captains custom cowboy boots and cowboy hats. Among the gifts that players and caddies presented to Stanford was an autographed jersey from Dak Prescott, the quarterback of Stanford’s beloved Dallas Cowboys. It was personalized for Stanford, encouraging her and her team to bring the Solheim Cup back to the U.S.

"Blockie" has divided opinion since his coming-out party at Oak Hill in 2023. Some have found his antics endearing or, at the very least, amusing from afar. Others ... well, let's just say they find Block to be a bit much. According to the 50-year-old on Sirius XM's Wagyu & Filet podcast this week, however, he's still learning, especially on the PGA Tour Champions, which has inspired him to cut two signature moves from his repetoire.

"I watched my first Champions Tour appearance at the Dick's [the 2026 Dick's Open], and a couple times I do this like putter drop ... and I'm like 'that's disgusting, I'm not doing that anymore," Block told hosts Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jong.

"So I haven't done that [since]. And then at the Ally, I'm doing this pointing thing and pointing at the camera. The whole reason for pointing at the camera is like, I'm pointing at my boys who are watching back in Orange County ... then I looked at it from a different point of view, and my dad said never to point at anybody. It's a rude gesture ... so that's a new thing for me now. You won't see me pointing at the cameras anymore."

So will we be getting a new, softer Michael Block going forward? It sounds like somewhat, but here's hoping he doesn't go too far. A little refinement is good and fine, but there are plenty of soulless robots in golf already. Michael Block, for better or worse, is one of a kind.

there was little surprise who topped the first PGA Tour University ranking for the 2026-27 season. Oklahoma State’s Preston Stout is in the top spot, bolstered by winning the NCAA and Big 12 titles last spring. That said, there is plenty of talent right behind him including Florida State’s Tyler Weaver (No. 2), Oklahoma’s Ryder Cowan (No. 3), Auburn’s Josiah Gilbert (No. 5), North Carolina’s Niall Sheils Donegan (No. 6) and Florida’s Luke Poulter (No. 7)—all of whom played in this past weekend’s Walker Cup. According to the PGA Tour, the top senior after the NCAA Championship next spring will earn PGA Tour membership—something Ludvig Aberg, Michael Thornbjornsen and Ben James used to their advantage in making the transition from college to the pros. The only question is how long that membership will last. A year ago, James earned a card for 2026 and 2027. But with the PGA Tour changing its structure for 2028, creating the championship and challenger series, it’s unclear what status, if any, the winner will have beyond this next season.

There are a set of milestones that need to be reached for LIV Golf to receive any sort of infusion from BC Partners, the most notable stipulating "entry by the Debtors, PIF, BC Partners, and a requisite number of players into an acceptable RSA" within 35 days of the bankruptcy file. Of the top 30 creditors LIV listed, 14 were players, meaning for LIV to survive it needs the people it owes millions to re-sign for a company whose financial future is unknown.

How it plays out will determine if it was smart or not. Organizers expect as many as 6,000 people to bike to the venue, but there is rain and fog in the forecast for some parts of all three competitive days. Maybe that’s nothing to the Dutch and they’ll ride in droves. If not, then either attendance could drop dramatically or the shuttle system could potentially become overwhelmed if people want to grab transportation at the last minute. Foremost in organizers’ minds has to be the transportation disaster of 2024 in Virginia, when fans waited hours for shuttles on the first day and, much to the dismay of the players, the first tee stands were nearly empty in the morning. To allow something like that to happen again is unthinkable.

But one has been constructed at Trump International Doonbeg in anticipation of a possible landing of Marine One (and President Donald Trump) this week as the course hosts the DP World Tour’s Irish Open. Like at last year’s Ryder Cup, the president’s appearance might lead to a “different” atmosphere, at least according to Rory McIlroy.

"He's a big fan of golf; he's a wonderful supporter of golf,” McIlroy said. “He's got a beautiful property here in Doonbeg. I wouldn't say it's a true links golf course; it's a bit of an Americanized version of a links course, but it's still a great golf course.

“I think the weekend, especially when he’s here, crowds will be limited. Obviously, there’s a lot that goes on. So, logistically, it provides some challenges, absolutely. But at the same time, if he wants to come and watch the Irish Open, who are we to say no?”

The resort will begin fielding inquiries about how to play and reservation requests for tee times this week. Pinehurst No. 11 joins Tom Doak’s No. 10 course at the resort’s new Sandmines location, a 900-acre wooden and mostly undeveloped parcel of land a few minutes down the road from the main resort. “This land is totally blessed by its character,” says Crenshaw. We got a full behind-the-scenes tour a few months ago—read our story for full details on Pinehurst No. 11.

Good luck to those competing at Trump Doonbeg this week. On Wednesday, Casey Jarvis showed off how much the golf ball was moving with this wild wedge shot. And Jon Rahm had his golf ball move—while it was sitting on the tee: 

Should be a fun tournament! (To watch from home.)

but yet she’s just 23 years old and the youngest American player. She’s been the subject of many good-natured jokes because of her youth. “I personally don’t feel like a veteran,” Zhang said. “I’m this baby everyone keeps joking about.” One of those things teammates pointed to was that she doesn’t know some music from the early 2000s. Then Jennifer Kupcho threw a zinger her way that elicited some nervous laughter. “I don’t know if you guys saw but she was mic’d up the other day when I was playing with her,” Kupcho said. “Some of the things she says, it’s like, ‘did you really go to Stanford?’ It’s just kind of funny.” Kupcho was one of four American players in that news conference at the time, and she was sitting next to Andrea Lee, who also went to Stanford.